Last night in Edmonton a disorganized and undiciplined US Junior
team managed to defeat the doormats of this world junior hockey
championships, Germany, 5-3. John Grahame and Oliver Hausler started in
goal. I received a post asking about the status of Dan Tompkins. He
played all night with his usual linemates Jamie Langenbrunner and Kevin
Hilton.
The US started quickly scoring at 2:06 when Shawn Haggerty put it
by Hausler with an assist to Landon Wilson. At 3:00 the germans got
their first shot from Jochen Hecht and applied some pressure causing a US
icing.
Germany tied the game at 6:01 when on a 2x1 Sven Valenta to a
pass from Alexander Serikow and scored on Grahame. After the goal the US
intensity picked up and they produced a couple of chances, but Deron
Quint was called for slashing at 8:06. This was a dumb penalty, done at
centre ice. On the power play Shawn Bates pushed a German after the
whistle and was lucky not to be sent off.
Bates came back from this and scored at 9:30 unassisted as he
stole the puck and went in on a 2x1 to score.
At 11:00 Alexander Serikow got a nice pass from Hecht but Grahame
made the save.
The US scored to make it 3-1 at 11:56. Deron Quint got a cheapie
on a floater which Hausler misplayed. No assists.
Mike Grier was called for holding at 12:43. This penalty was in
the offensive zone. Grahame made a nice save through traffic on the
power play. He also had a couple of stops in close.
Rory Fitzpatrick went off at 14:16 for roughing, and again this
was totally unnecessary, a shove after the whistle. Bates went off for
slashing at 16:39. Luckily the Germans were not capable of
capitalizing. At 19:00 Grahame stopped a 3x1 by grabbing the puck.
Despite their 3-1 lead the US played poorly in virtually all
facets of the game, mental and physical. If they were playing better
competition they would be in the same trouble they have had throughout
the tournament.
SHOTS: Germany 12 USA 10
Langenbrunner was called for charging at 3:01 of the second. He
was on a break and was racing the goalie for the puck. There was a
collision, and the penalty. This was a bad call. The Germans got a
couple of good chances on the power play, once Grahame lost where the puck
was--in the crease.
Andreas Renz went off for holding the stick at 4:09, then Erich
Goldmann for interference at 6:18, but the Germans scored next making it
3-2 at 7:15 when Stefan Mann scored shorthanded after stealing the puck
illustrating graphically the lack of US attention to anything in this
game. At the end of the power play the US thought they scored but it was
ruled that the puck did not go over the line. There was not an argument.
Then another series of penalties: Matching to Adam Deadmarsh for
holding and Marco Eltner for roughing at 10:12, Tino Boos for tripping at
11:49, and Stefan mann for slashing at 12:43.
At 15:59 Shawn Bates of BU scored on a nice crossing move but the
goal was waved off because the ref ruled that it was batted in with the
glove. From my seat I could not tell, there was an argument this time.
At 16:13 Stephan Retzer was called for roughing. Landon wilson
had a golden chance in front, but was stopped by Hausler, and then got
into a fight that was called roughing. He and Boos went off at 17:07.
Grahame was called for delay of game at 18:07 when he shot the puck into
the bench to thwart a breakaway.
The US was in a bad mood and a bad way this period. They were
playing angry rather than smart. I felt they could give the game away
without an attitude adjustment.
SHOTS: Germany 5 USA 12
The US was assessed a delay of game penalty to start the period
because they were late arriving on the ice, so credit a lapse to coach
Jackson as well. The PA system started playing the theme from Gilligan's
Island, and the US is playing like that is how they feel about being in
this tournament.
The Germans scored on the power play at 1:04 to tie the game at
3. Hecht converts on a backhand unassisted. The crowd jeers and
cheers. The predominantly neutral group had been alientated by the US
attitude. The US tonight did not wear their uniforms with pride, or
should not have.
Jamie Langenbrunner was called for unsportmanlike conduct at
2:09. I missed what he did. Stefan Mann was called for hooking at 3:07
and the US converted the power play to retake the lead at 4:49. After
some sustained pressure Adam Deadmarsh scored on a nice pass from Haggerty.
The Germans Bruggemann was called for holding at 6:55. Wilson
set up in front of goal and got off a good shot. Serikow came back on
the counter forcing Grahame to make a good stick save.
At 8:40 Goldmann was called for holding Mike Grier. The US
converted at 10:25 for their final tally when Deron Quint wristed a shot
past Hausler from in front with assists to Deadmarsh and Haggerty.
Goldmann was hurt on the play.
Landon Wilson got a major penalty for causing the injury with a
misconduct for tripping (all this after the goal). After not getting a
shot for 3 minutes the Germans' Thorston Fendt was called for hooking.
The game, thankfully, wound down.
SHOTS: USA 10 Germany 8
After seeing Canada-Finland just hours before the difference in the level
of play, but also the commitment, was obvious. No comments in the paper
today from Jeff Jackson, only from players, I wonder why. This is not
the way I like to see the US team present themselves.
Arthur Berman [log in to unmask]
THE MAPLE LEAF FOREVER!!!
GO BU!!!